“Wildwood Flower”: Key of C

Keyboard Shortcuts

This old traditional tune has become an iconic Bluegrass standard put on the map by the Carter family in the late 20's. The tune is usually played in the Key of C so this is how Tony teaches it in this lesson using a combination of rolls including the Osborne Rol and forward rolls.

- The Carter Family, Helen, A.P.…and Mother Maybelle,…were some of the very first country stars…when they recorded in 1928 and '29 down in Virginia…for Ralph Peer, I believe it was.…And A.P. Carter would just wander…through the woods around where they lived…and would collect songs.…So he was probably the most famous song collector…of his time, if not of many times.…And one of the songs he discovered…was "Wildwood Flower," which has become…such a standard for country guitar players,…and Mother Maybelle just put it on the map.…

And it's just a very pretty tune,…and it works nicely on the banjo.…And we're going to do it here in the key of C,…where it's usually played.…And I will play it once through for you…and then we'll discuss it from there.…(banjo playing "Wildwood Flower")…And you go back into it…on an endless, mobius strip of banjo playing.…

(banjo strum)…So this has a two-note lead-in.…(slow banjo playing)…I'm kind of starting with a C chord…with an open first string,…so you have your index finger…on the second fret of the first,…

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Released

10/7/2016

Learn how to play banjo with United States Artists Friends Fellow and multi-Grammy nominee Tony Trischka. Learn at your own pace from the comfort of your home, or anywhere else you can carry your instrument and your learning device. This 4-part definitive video library includes hundreds of banjo lessons and performances, plus banjo tabs, backing tracks, and other study materials. Part 1 covers the fundamentals: holding a banjo, tuning a banjo, reading music, and positioning your right and left hands. Tony covers some simple finger picking and thumb rolls, and introduces exercises to help strengthen your fingers and play some simple tunes. Plus, learn the classic bluegrass songs that any banjo player needs to know, such as "Sourwood Mountain" and "Wildwood Flower."

Note: This course was recorded and produced by ArtistWorks. We are honored to host this training in our library.